Well tester



T. S. WEST WELL TESTER Oct. 14, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 28, 1947 Oct. 14, 1952 T s WEST 2,613,747

A WELL TESTER T. S. WEST Oct. 14, 1952 WELL TESTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 28,4 1947 FIG. 5

FIGQB FIG INVEN OR,

T. S. WEST WELL TESTER Oct. 14, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 28, 1947 INVENTOR.

FI-G.7

(fla-"W4 "HAHA i mf/@ILV lll l Patented Oct. 14, 1952 Y lUNITEDy STATI-:s PATENT o OFFICE y WELL TESTER Thomas' Scott West, San Antonio, Tex.

IApplication",guly' 28, 1947, Serial No. 764,123

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to thev determinationof the uid productivity of the forma-tions' compr-fisA ing the wall of an uncased Well.

The primary object of this"`inventlon` lsv topro-- vide a positive means forv determining the -uid productivity at any level in-fa well after it khas been drilled to the desired depth. This information is of great economic value for determining the desirability of' settingjcasfing. At present the productivity of the formations penetrated may be reliably determined for the bottomv portion of the hole only. This necessitates considerable coring as a guide for selecting'` the zones' to be tested.

For example, in penetrating a thick' sandl section containing segregated gas,v oil', and'. water zones, it may be necessaryto alternately core and then drill stem test relatively small intervals' such as ve feet or'less. Not' only isv this-` operation expensive but frequently drillv stem tests are not taken at the proper levelfor accurate determinao tion of gas, oil and Waterlevels'because of failure to core at the proper point, or because ofv failure to recover the core after it has been cut. Frequently the existence of. possible productive formations are not discovered'until after' the well has been drilled to some lower level. Atj present the casing has to be set before thel productivityoi" a porous formation when -suclr formation has been indicated by an. electric log, can be determined.

Although study and' analysis of side wall',or other cores, yield some information. as't'o the probable lluid which will be produced. such determinations.

are frequently erroneous; and often result in expensive attempts at` completion inzones which prove to be nonproductlve of. oilv orgas'.

This invention is designed' to provide a tool sufciently positive in operationl as' to render unnecessary coring and productivity testsL prior to drill'- ing the well to the desired' total depth. The elimination of'such coring'and testingoperationssignicantly decreases the cost of'drillingwellsaparticularly that of Wildcat or exploratory Weil's.

(Cl. ISG-1) Although a number of" side wall fluidsampling.

devices have been proposedythese' devices have not proved suiiiciently positive inoperaltionto' replace usual testing; and' corlng. procedures. The

development of a" high degree: of. eiilci'ency is therefore critical. l Present' sideI wall'testingde'- vices fail to yield suiliciently positive results as to make possible the. elimination of" presentcoring and testing lpractices because ofone or more. of.

the following, difficulties:

The existence. of a large andlirregularhole due. to cavng, orv because offmechanicallabrasion as- Vsoci'ated with the drilling operation:

, y2 Plugging of iluidi or other material comprisingtheWa-lfl of the Well, with drilling mud zA Sticking ofthe device because of inf-lov( of un? consolidated sand or similar formation-v Devices employingspaced apartpackers are particularly susceptible to lstick-ing in this-way, frequently re-v sulting'` in.- an expensive fishingjob, ory in' Va 'juii'k'edhole. i

ThisI invention hereinabove listed andl conse'quen-flyv provides an operative testing device competent to adequately eliminate present coringI and"testing'procedure, thereby obtaining a 'novel and beneficial result which the oil producing trade has long awaited.`

' Otherandfurther objects of this invention; will be apparent whenthe'speciation is considered in connection withthe drawings in` which:l

Fig; 1'- is asectionalelevation of the'upperpart of the tool installed in a pipe string. n

Fig. 1-A is asectional elevation ofthe-lower end of the tool', upper endy of which isl shown in Fig. l. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevationjof the upper end of the w01v with thesampiingtube inserted.

Fig'. 2-A is a' sectional elevation ofthe lower end` ofthe tool, showing the samplingLtiib'e seated;1 and the'packerexpanded.v I 1 r Y' Fig; 3l is a sectional elevation of thelu'pper end ofl the tooly showing'a' collar on the upper e'ndgof' the sampling tube seated within the toolit'o estab# lislr a Valving arrangement permitting successive samples to betaken'.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged f.ragm'entarycViewi of the. structures at the' topfof thewellwhich'pe'rmit the. carrying out of the functions of this invention-` Fig. 5is an' enlarged sec't'iorfialflelevation showf4 'ing details ofthe screening member construction,l

y Fig. 6-is a .fragmentary sectional elevationin enlarged detail, showing. a modified. form@ ofgthe lower end of the sampling tube 'shown infFig. v2-A, equipped to unseat thevalve thereinlnelowr to per'-` mit Washing of the screeningmernber. 1

y Fig. 7 is a "sectional elevationA of ythe upper end-` ofv the tool, showing, a collaronlthe upper lend-oi the" sampling. tuber to establish. afvalt/ing arrange;v ment edualizing pressure withiniland external tof,

the packer.

Fig. 8 is an. enlarged'fsectionalfragmentary view showing a portion of- `the tooly with atcollarfin-f stalledA onvthe sampling-f, tube to producelateral movementv of' the latching mechanism'toftrip the trigger. t y vAs shownin Eignnhfthe tooll has: therho'using.; pipe 2 whichv is internally threaded at 3 to reinletsA of the testing device by unconsolidated sand, or by al mixtureo'f sandL avoids the critical weaknesseshousing pipe I4. At its lower end the housing' pipe I4 is internally vthreaded at |5 for engage- Y ment with the connector I6. The connector I6 is externally threaded at I1 for engagement with the internally threaded upper end I 8 of the housing pipe I 9.

As shown in Fig. 1-A, the housing internally threaded at for connection to the turned down, externally threaded upper end 2| of the closure member 22. The bore 23 of the closure member 22 is threaded at 24 for engagement with-the mandrel 25. The mandrel 25 has as a part thereof the plug 26 which is internally threaded at 21 for engagement therewith.

A mandrel assembly 20 is slidably operable within the housing or housing assembly 28. The upper mandrel element 29 of this assembly has the countersunk seat 3| therein, and outwardly thereof shoulders at 32 against the stop collar 4. The lower mandrel section 33 is threaded at 34 into theupper section 29 and .has the slots 35, 36, and.31 in the lower end thereof so that the wall sections therein constitute the catches 4| 42, and 43for purposes to be hereinafter described. The lower mandrel section also has welded therearound the angle iron ilange 38.

The spring 39 is conned within the annular space 40 between mandrel 30 and housing 28 and bears upon the flange I2 to urge upwardly against the mandrel shoulder 44 to force the mandrel against the stop collar 4. A iiexible, cupv type packer member 45 is conned around the mandrel section 33 between the spool member 46 and the lower end face 41 of the upper mandrell element 29. Similarpacker `members 48 and 49, separated by the spacer ring 50, extend around the section 33 and are confined between the spool member 46'and the iiange 38. As shown in Fig. 1`

the housing has the ports 5| therein between the cups 45jand 49, and the ports `52 therein below` thev lcup '48'.

The housing 28 has the externally threaded portion 53 thereon vfor engagement with the collar 54. The pipe or jacket 55 is internallythreadcl at 56 for engagement with theclosure member 22 l and upstands thereabove. and is internally threaded at 51' to receive therein the lower ringy 58 and the'bevel ring 59 which rings vsurround the collar 54.

A latching device 60 is iixed at 6| to the bore` of the housing 28 and lhas the wedge or prong.

member62 thereon for engagement with the catches 4|, 42, and 43, vand extendsk downwardly to terminate in the trigger member 62. To

accommodate the latching device 60, the countersunken ring 63, around the end of I the mandrel section 33. has the slot 64 therein through which the latching device 60 operates.

The pipe or tube 65 extends through the con-l nector I6 and has' the guider ring 66 threaded p thereonto at 61 to bear on the top face 68 vofthe connector. The tube 65 has the ports 69 therein i and is connected at 10 to thel seat element 1|. The tube 12 is connected at 13 to the lseatelement II and. terminates atits threaded connection 'I4 passage 8| in the mandrel 25.

The mandrel 25 also has therein the axially extending passage 82 which extends from the top thereofy downwardly to communicate with the vopen space 83"'therein. It also has the axially extending passage 84 which connects with the tubular element 85 which connects the interior of the manifolds-plug 1 9 with the mandrel. In

this way communication v--is established betweenl the manifold plugv interior 86 and the interior 81 The ports-88 inthe upper end 2 I .of the closure member 22 -pla'ce the annular space 89 between jacket 55 and housing 28 in communication, via the bore 23 and passageway 82, with the plug space 81. Also, the ports 92 place the annular space 9| Hbetween housingl pipe lI9 Vand tubular assembly in communicatiomnvia the space 66 and the passageway, with the space 81. The port 93, in turn, places the passageway 84in communication with the annular. spacev 94 between the tool landv the wellbore 95.v The port I2I places thel space'81 within the plug 26 in communication withlthe annulus v94.

Fluidtight connectors 96 vand 91 arev threaded onto the mandrel 25, andthe' connector 36 is threaded internallyto receivethe Vilanged holddownring 98 which bears against the iiuidtight connector 99. 'l A similar arrangement of fluidtight connectors .|I10'andy IIJI are threaded onto the plug 26, the connector; |00 being internally threaded to' receive theanged support ring |02 which bears against the 'uidtight connector |03.

` Between lthe iluidtight connector 96 and holddown ring v9|! above,'and1the iluidtight connector |00 andsupport ring |02 below, there is installed theV sleeve: typepacker- |05,'in iiuidtight sealed relationship with these' elements. A ilexible screen assembly. |04, including a flexible pad |04', is tted in a vrecess l|01 in the packer |05, andsurrounds andhaspa'sfsing centrally therethrough a fluid inletmei'nber |08, having a mesh screen |13 o v'er the face of such inlet to retain within the inlet a screening medium |06. A grate |08' covers thenner end of the inlet. This assembly is connected at |09,into the bearing member I|0, to holdthismember against the inside wall |05' of the packer |05 for transverse movement therewith'. l A

The tube has a'ball ||2 at its upper end to bear in the mandrel socket] I3', and the fitting |'|4 sur'rounds thev tube and is connected into the f 'mandrel' at I`|5 to complete the .ball-and-socket joint. 'At' its lower end the'tube also has the ball ||6which"fits into the-socket II1 in the bearing member 0. n fThe passage I8 extends throughV the Atube III, "including the balls, and

places the mandrel passageway `8| in vcommunicawardly at the mandrel 25 and downwardly at the inside of the packer wall.

Should it 'be desired to determine the produc,- tivity of' a formation at any level in an uncased well, the tool is first assembled, the mandrel assembly 39 being inserted against the pressure of spring 35| until the prong 62 latches in the catch 4|, after which the stop collar 4 is installed. The tool is then installed on the drill string l8 and lowered into the well to some desired point, as where an electric log has indicated a porous formation or sand |22;

After the tool I has been lowered on the drill string 8 to any desired position vin the well bore 95, as adjacent a formation |22 to be tested for productivity, the sampling tube |25 is lowered by the wire line' |23 until 'the lower end thereof seats upon the seat 1 I.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 2'A, this sampling tube 25 has an upper housing |26 anda lower housing |21 slidable therein. vThe coupling'mer'nber |23, between the upper section |29 and the lower section |39 of the upper housing |25, has the upper end of the spring |3| engaged therewith while the lower end of the spring is engaged with the coupling |32 between the upper section |33 and lower section |34 of the lower housing |21. The lower housing terminates downwardly in the closure plug |35 through which extends the pipe |35 to upstand thereabove within the lower section |34. This pipeV |36 has the flange |31 at the bottom thereof to confine the packing elements |58 between the iiangey |31 and closure plug |35.

rIhe port |5| is located in the pipe |42 to be moved above and belowthe gland |45, as will be hereinbelow explained. The packer |39 is held upon the periphery of the lower section |34 by means of the rings |40 and |4|. The pipe |42 upstands from the coupling |32, through the spring |3 and coupling |28, including the packing |43, ring |44, and the gland |45 therein, and terminates upwardly in the top closure |46. This top closure |46 has the port |41 therethrough and the seal |48 therearound, so that the upper end of the pipe |42, including its top closure |46, is slidable within the recoil cylinder |49, which is located co-axially of the upper housing |26, by means of the radial spacers |59 connected to the cylinder. It also results that this construction operates as a balanced valve mechanism to prevent the movement of the port |5| into com-J munication with the upper sample tube housing when external pressure operates to accomplish this result.

As shown in Fig. 4, the wire line |23, by means of which the sampling tube |25 has been lowered. extends through the stufling box |52'of the cap |53, which is threaded at |54 over the top of the drill string The slips |55, which fit in the rotary table |55, are shown holding the drill string B against vertical movement. The slips |55 and rotary table |56 are both diagrammatically indicated and the element |51 diagrammatically indicates the base or support at the top of the well within which the rotary table rotates. and is supported. When the sampling tube |25 has been seated, the gland l5?,7 is threaded into the stulng box E52 to force the ring |59 downwardly to compress and tighten the packing |260 about the wire line |23.

When the gland |53 has been tightened, fluid under pressurey is supplied to the drill pipe through the inletiil to force downwardly the` drilling mud which has previously been supplied thereto. This mud. is separated by the valvek 16,

shown in Fig. 2-A, from the tool parts therebelow.-

so is forced outwardly through the ports 52 shown in Fig. l, into the annulus' 39, and thence through the ports 88 into 'the closure bore 23, and thence through the passage 82 into the space r83 to bear against the inner periphery of the packer .|05 to expand the, packer outwardly against the forma-v tion |22. f The relief valve |62 is provided to re-' lieve againstthe injurious effects v'of'. excessive may then flow through the screening member' and huid-inlet assembly into thebore H9 of the `bearing member un. Then, with nie tube in in the position shown in Fig. 2-'Atoaccommodate packer expansion, Athe fluid flowsup the passage ||8 :and'thence through the mandrel passage 8| and tubular element 13 to the passage 11 to lift the valve 16.]v

The `fluid then passes into the sampling tube pipe |36 and'thereabove into the pipe |42 and out therefrom 'through the port 5| into the upper portion of the sampling tube. Then, when an upward pull is exerted yon the wirey line |23 yfrom the top.. of the well, the upper housing |26 moves upward therewith' to close off communication between the ports |28 and the upper part vof the sari'ip'lingv tube inwhichthe sample of fluid has been trapped and until the lower extension |59' ofthe spacer-' SOis contacted by the coupling |28 as shown in Fig. 2. 'lhe samplingtube |25 mayY showninFigs. 1 and l-A; as the drillingV fluid or mud can pass down the drill pipe s down intothe tool and outwardly through the port 69 intol 4the annulus 9|,"and thencethrough ports .92' into the space 86. From thence it can flow through the passage 84 into the space 81 and out therefrom through the post |2| into the well bore space 94. The valve 16 remainstclosed under force of lfluid head thereabove' while this circulation' takes place.l f- -V' lWhen the rsampling tube |25 is lowered into'the tool and seated at 1|', as showninjFig. 2-A, the cup type packer |39, shown 'in Fig..2, seals off thev mud from passing down the tube 65, and. the packing 1|', which comprises the seating'element of the sampling tube,` prevents. themud from owing thereby and up into the sampling tube.

V'In cases where it Vmay be desired to take sev-r thereby downwardly .but not upwardly while ythe packer 48 will allow fluid to circulateupwardly but not downwardly. Because of this construction it is possible to force fluid past packer 48 and out through port 52 to` expand the packer V|05 and leave it expanded while successive samples are taken, as the fluid or mud in the packer can not flow back past packer 48 to relieve the pressure in the packer.

As shown in Fig. 7, itis possible to employ the sampling tube |25 to collapse the packer |05 by loeating the collar |63 at a lower position on the sampling tube housing than shown in Fig. 3. This permits the spring 39 to be compressed a further distance before the collar |63 contacts the seat 3| and positions the catch 43 to be engaged by the trigger wedge 62. In this position the cup packers 48 and 49 areY both below the ports 5| and 52 so that pressures within and outside the packer |05 are equalized since fluid may ilow in the annular space 40 around the spool 46 and between the ports 5| and 52,.

It is also possible to employ the sampling tube |25 to move ther trigger 62' laterally to unlatch the mandrel assembly 30 for upward movement so that it may return to the position shown in Fig. 1, or in cases, to positions determined by the collar |63, as shown in Figs. 3 or 7. This is accomplished, as shown in Fig. 8, by installing the collar |63 on the lower end of the upper sampling tube housing |26 so that it contacts thetrigger 62 to move the latching device 60 laterally outward thereby permitting the spring 39 to return the mandrel 30 to upward position.

It is possible to provide a sampling tube |25 with the-pipe |36 extended to such a length that the volume of the annulus |65 therearound is greater than the volume of interior space extend. ing from right below the top of the pipe |36 to the uid inlet |08. In this' way, the drilling mud which has expanded the packer |05 will be forced up into this annulus |65 ahead of the connate fluid produced from the formation |22 so that the connate fluid may later pass upwardly thereabove.

If the annular space |65 is lled with water before e'ach run of the sampling tube |25, any mud initially .present in the interior space from the top of `the pipe |36 and the fluid inlet |06 will be trapped or Asubstantially diluted thereby, thus minimizing the possibility of the mud clogging the port |5| or the passages leading into the upper portion of the sampling tube.

The port' 12| m the plug 2s and the port e3 in the ymandrel 25 are together provided to equalize the pressures in the well bore 94 above and below the expanded packer. This insures against the bursting, failure, or collapse of the packer |05, as may otherwise occur, as when a slow infiltration of Water from the mud enters the permeable formations below the level at which the packer is expanded. L I

An enlarged detail of a satisfactory screening member and fluid inlet assembly |04 is'shown in Fig. 5. The recess |01 is provided in the packer wall, thereby leaving the wall portion thinner at |66. VA hole |61 is provided through this thin will portion |66 and the connector |68 is inserted therethrough for threaded engagement inwardly with the bearing mem-ber ||0. Outwardly of the connector, the fluid inlet tube |08 is provided vand threaded into the outer end |69 of the connector. The inlet tube |08 has the perforations |10 therein andthe flange |1| at the'outer end thereof to bear against the mesh wire screen |13 which en -V stantially larger diameter, and surrounded by the reinforced rubber pad |09 which fits into the recess |01 but which is not connected to the packer |05. The mesh yscreen |13 covers the outer end of the inlet ,and is tacked to the flange |1| to retain the gravel |14 inside the inlet. This inlet has the perforated disc |16 in the inner portion of its bore to confine the gravel.

When it becomes necessary to Wash the screening member |04', as when the gravel may become clogged, an attachment |11, as shown in Fig. 6, may be extended below the fiange |31 at the lower end of the sampling tube |25. When the sampling tube |25 isthen lowered into seated position ontheseat 1|, this attachment |11 extends therebelow to unseat the valve 16. Then a fluid may be forced from the sampling tube |25, or from any other suitable container above the valve 16, to

wash downwardly and clear the screen.

mation closes the screening substance |14, as gravel.y

TheV reinforcing wires |15 extend between the meshwires.

An optional construction, as shown mosty clearvly irf Fig. 2-A,'shows theV inlet tube |08 of sub- Numerous experimental tests indicate that an effective screening member |04 is necessary to prevent the clogging of fluid inlet |08 with sand or other formation eroded from producing for- |22 by nuid flow. Such formation erosion may also result in the formation of a cavity around inlet |08 which may become sufciently large to result in failure of packer |05. Effective screening at this point is therefore critical from the standpoint of a testing device sufficiently positive in operation as to renderunnecessary usual testing and coring operations. While several types of screening procedures are operative for this purpose, it has been determined by experimental investigation that the use of a nne gravel |14 held in place `by appropriate screen members |13, |15 is preferable to other types of screen. It is necessary that the construction be sufficiently pliant and of such nature as to result in pressing the screen member directly against the wall of the Well when the. packer |05 is expanded.

Numerous tests indicate that in case of unconsolidated sands even a very small space between the screen member |04' and the face of the sand |22 results in a mixture of sand and mud lter cake which clogs the screen; whereas, if the inlet is pressed directly against the wall so 'as to support the sand, thus preventing mixing of sandA and mud filter cake, clogging does not occur. Y

Incase of gravel screens it has been found that'the use of gravel having an average grain size approximately six times that of the coarsest l0 per cent of the sand to be screened effectively prevents the inflow of sand into inlet |08 While permitting the 'passage of the mud lter cake which is usually present on the face of the sand. Suchalso permits now of any connate fluid yielded bythe formation against which the 'screening member is pressed. The use of gravel pads contained in flexible screen wire containers,

such as shown in Fig.'5, also permits the testing tube Y| to positively prevent leakage into tube.

||| and the ball and socket joints when the external pressure exceeds that inside tube yThis is necessary since the hydrostatic head, due

to the fluid column in the-well, will be at least equal to and usually exceeds thatofwformations comprising the 'wallof the well. AThus leakage will tend to occur from: inside fpacker |05 into pipe IH rather thanin the reverse direction.

Throughout the specification the termitool has been vemployed to,y designate .the body, of the invention but it isi herein pointed out that the term device is equally; applicable toidescribe the over-all assemblyjltlikewise whereas fthe element |535 has beenxtermed ra ipackervbutit may as wellbe termedwa ffpacking elementi or a packing sleeve'of-z expansible material;v likewise the vtermV supportgmay ybeemploved as well asthe term device to describethe tool or tool assembl'yPf-@Also the "sampling tube" may be termed the sample receiver or sample receiving container; the term conduit may be employed wherever the terms -passage or passageway have been used; and the terms valve mechanism or valve means?` mayV optionally be used .in place of v.the term valve wherever this word occurs throughout lthe specification. Additionally the grave in' the strainer. may also be .i termed' a granular material.v f 2j f un Broadly this invention covers *a structurefor determining the productivity-'of ari oil producing formation at any desired 'level 'in an" 'uncased well bore.

This invention also considers a structure for taking a succession of samples of fluid at a desired level in an uncased well bore without resetting the packer after taking each sample.

This invention also considers testing the productivity of a well by a structure whichemploys the sampling tube thereof to change the Valving condition in the testing tool to alter pressure conditions at the level thereof.

l. Apparatus for obtaining samples of the fluid content of the earth formations traversed by a well bore, said apparatus comprising, a housing adapted to be lowered to predetermined positions in the well bore adjacent formations to be sampled, a sample containing means in said housing, an inflatable packer on said housing, means for inating said packer to seal off the well bore, a strainer in the wall of said packer providing a yieldable strainer portion to receive connate fluid fromthe formation under formation pressure while excludingr formation particles and a rigid, tubular connection between said strainer and said housing within said packer and pivotally connected at one end to said strainer and at the other end to said housing, channel means in said housing to complete a flow passage between said tubular connection and said sample containing means whereby said connate fluid may flow via said strainer, said connection and said channel means to said sample containing means.

2. Apparatus for obtaining samples of the iiuid content of the earth formationstraversed by a well bore, said apparatus comprising, a housing adapted to be lowered to predetermined positions in the well bore adjacent formations to be sampled, a sample containing means in said housing, an inflatable packer on said housing, means for inflating said packer to seal off the well bore, a strainer in the wall of Said packer providing a yieldable strainer portion to receive connate fluid from the formation under forma-- tion pressure while excluding formation particles, a rigid, tubular connection between said lao strainer and said housing within said packer and pivotally Vconnected at one end toi said strainer and at the other end to fsaid housing, channely means in said housing to complete a flow passage between'said tubular connection 'and said samplecontaining means whereby said connate fluid may flow Via said strainer, saidv connection, and said vchannel means to said-:sample containing means, said apparatus including means for bringing said sample containing means to the surface of 'the well. w

3. Apparatus *for` obtaining y samples of 4the fluid content of the-earth `formations traversed by a well bore, -said apparatus comprising, a housing adaptedl to be lowered to predetermined positions in the well bore ladjacent formations to bevsampled',"a `sample containing means in said housingzan inflatableV packer on said housing, means'for infiating said packer to seal off the Well bore, a strainer in the wall of said packer providing a A-yieldable strainer portion to receive connate fluid from the formation underformation pressure while excluding formation particles, a rigid,` tubular connection between said strainer and said housing within said packer and pivotally connected at one end to said strainer and at the-other" end to said housing, channel means in `said housing to complete a new 'loas-v sage between 'said'tubular connection and said sample containing means whereby said connate fluid may flow via said strainer, said connection, and said channel means to said sample containing means, and a pressure equalization passage in said housing to provide fluid communication between said well bore sections above and below said packer.

4. Apparatus for obtaining samples of the fluid content of the earth Vformations traversed by a well bore, said apparatus comprising, a housing adapted to be lowered to predetermined positions in the well bore adjacent formations to be sampled, a sample containing means in said housing, an inflatable packer on said housing, means for infiating said packer to seal 01T the Well b ore, a strainer in the Wall of said packer providing a yieldable strainer portion to receive connate fluid from the formation under formation pressure while' excluding formation particles, said housing including a body, and a mandrel slidable therein, a rigid, tubular connection between said strainer and said body within said packer and pivotally connected at one end to said strainer and at the other end to said body, channel means in said body to complete a flow passage betweenl said tubular connection and said sample containing means whereby said connate fluid may flow vvia said strainer, said connection and said channel means to said sample containing means, said mandrel and said body together providing an integrated flow passage therethrough and valve means operable to open and close said flow passage so that a uuid may 'me circulated from the top of the well boreV through said integrated flow passage and out of said apparatus into the well bore therebelow.

5. Apparatus for obtaining samples of the fluid content of the earth formations traversed by a Well bore, said apparatus comprising@J housing adapted to be lowered to predetermined positions in the well bore adjacent formations to be sampled, a sample containing means in said housing, an inflatable packer on said housing, means for inilating said packer to seal off thev well bore, a strainer in the wall of said packer providing a yieldable strainer portion to receive connate fluid from-the formationunder formation pressurel Lcontaining means in said housing, an inatable packer on said housing, rmeans for inflating said packer to seal olf the well bore, a strainer in the wall of said packer providing a yieldable strainer portion to contact the formation when said packer is inflated, a tubular connection between said strainer and the inner wall of said packer, a socket in said connection, a, socket in said housing, a rigid tubularv element. having ball membersat either end to establish a universally connected flow passage means between said connection socket and said housing socket, `and means providing a uid channel between said housing socket and v said sample containing means. v l

7. Apparatus for obtaining samples of the fluid content of the earth formations traversed by a well bore, said apparatus comprising, a housing adapted to be lowered to predetermined positions in the well (bore adjacent formations to be sampled, a samplecontaining means in said housing, an inatable packer 'on said housing, means for inflating 'saidpacker to seal off the well bore, a strainer in the wall o1' said packer providing a yieldable strainer portion to receive connate fluid from the-.formation under formation pressure while excluding formation particles, said packer having a recess therein, said strainer including afixible pad fitting in said recess, a rigid inner lmember extending through said pad, a mesh onthe outer side of said rigid member and a grateon the inner side thereof and a screening material confined thereinbetween, and means completing a ilow passage between said strainer andsaid sample containing means.

THOMAS SCOTT WEST.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

